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Zurita had repaired several homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey, health district officials said.

“It’s most likely this person’s infection occurred when bacteria from Harvey debris or floodwater entered his body through a wound or cut,” Dr. Philip Keiser, Galveston County local health authority, said in a news release. “This is a very rare infection, but that doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking for this person’s family and friends.”

Zurita’s obituary described him as a loving husband and father who moved to the United States to help his family, which includes a wife and daughter in his native Oaxaca. He was a skilled carpenter who was doing demolition work following the devastating hurricane that hit Texas in August.

“He’s a very caring person,” Brenda Avalos, wife of Zurita’s cousin, told KHOU. “He has a lot of friends here in Galveston that love him. Everybody is very sad. He was very young and always smiling.”

Zurita’s death is the only known case of necrotizing fasciitis in Galveston County related to Harvey, according to health district officials.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly, are more susceptible to contracting necrotizing fasciitis. A majority of people who become infected have other conditions, like diabetes, kidney disease, cancer or another chronic illness, that affect their immunity.

Officials caution people with open wounds to practice proper care, including covering the wounds with clean, dry bandages until they are healed. First aid should not be delayed, even for minor, non-infected wounds, the CDC said.

Those with open wounds should wash their hands often, with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based sanitizer if soap and water are not available. They should avoid contact with whirlpools, hot tubs and swimming pools, as well as with natural bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers or oceans.

A wounded person should seek medical attention immediately if they develop redness, swelling or a fever.